Sooo happy!

[Pepper]

Well, the sickly skink I got a month ago is doing, wonderful. He eats everyday, and is obviously gaining weight, and he is starting to get his adult colors..I'm so happy he has shown improvement. I was worried he may never get well if he was wild caught, but obviously with enough food and enough heat, anything is possible. I also truly believe, he is just nice, he is very calm when I hold him, but wouldn't hesitate to maul a cricket

So without further ado, here are some pics so you can enjoy along with me.

This is a before picture..he was really skinny, and dull, he did appear semi bloated, but I think it was because he hadn't eaten for a long time in his previous home and gorged himself when he got here.

He also had a gnarly cut/scar on his head.

Now...(He just got done eating 5 large crickets and 5 mealworms so he had a pudgy tummy)

Now getting nice colors:

No more cut on head:

RREEDDD

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Wow, he looks alot better. That's a fire skink right? I'm thinking of getting one sometime within the next year or so (still have to get ALOT of supplies, just have a bare tank right now) and was wondering if you think one would fit ok in a tank this size: http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=34142

They're very pretty and seem pretty simple to care for from what I've read, I'd just like to get an opinion from someone who actually owns one.

 

[Pepper]

Yes that's fine, I just upgraded my little guy from a 10 gallon into a 20 long and he's loving it!

I wouldn't say they are, exactly simple to care for. They can be very, very mean/nasty/bitey they are lightning fast, they need UVB, and most are filled with parasites because no one really breeds them.

They really don't need a lot of supplies, some organic soil, or moist coco fiber, a water dish, hides, UVB(although this is debated whether they need it or not since they live in thick underbrush in west Africa) I use a low UVB source and supplement with calcium with D3 occasionally, and that's about it. They will be buried almost 90 percent of the time.

A lot if wild caught are also very reluctant to take our type of feeders, but they get used to eating them and soon turn into eating machines.

They can tame down, but it's not fare to dig them up to hold them. I just wait for mine to come out at feeding time, feed him, and rarely pick him up just because I want to stress him out as little as possible.

If mine makes it to full adulthood, then I am going to give it the okay and hold him more then once a week. I am pretty sure he is going to be okay, but I'm not sure if I'm out in the clear yet.

I do agree, they are very pretty.

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Well by simple, I just meant that they didn't seem like they needed a whole lot of fussing over with housing.

So far I plan on getting a small UTH, a UVB and heat bulb (and of course the lamp to put them in), hides, water dish, etc. As for bedding I've been looking at Eco Earth.

As for handling, I've never been the type to try and force my reptiles to be held. I don't want to stress them out. Even with my geckos, I still let them crawl onto my hand before picking them up.

Anyway I hope yours continues to do well and don't forget to post update pics as he grows

 

[kyahbean]

Awww he looks great, Sara! That's awesome! And you are very lucky you got a nice skink LOL

Keep us posted.

 

[Pepper]

Yes eco earth can work, I just find with that stuff it's hard to keep it moist enough so I use a combination of eco earth and organic soil.

Thanks guys!